Talking machine



March 18, 1930. A. F. LARsoN TALKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2. l192'7' 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March lsg'lsso. AF. LARSON A v1,751,162 Y TALKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mitch 18, 1930.. A, F LARsoN TALKING MAcHNE Filed NOV. 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet I 5 March 18, 1930. A A. F. LARsoN 1,751,162

TALKING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 18, 1930 AXEL IVE'. LARSON, OIF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

" Price ASSIGNOR TO ES'I'fltNy ELECTRIC PIANO,

COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION" OF ILLINOIS i TALKING MACHINE Application filed November One of my objects is to provide means, in a talking machine, whereby the machine may be operated to play a. large number of selections without requiring the manual operation of changing the needle or stylus, the invention having particular application to machines which are placed in public places to be set into operation automatically by the deposit of a coin therein, in such machines it lo being particularly desirable that servicing of the machine, as for example to change the needle or stylus, be as infrequent as possible thereby to reduce the cost of operation.

Another object is to provide novel, simple and economical means for the purposes above stated. i

Another object is to provide in a machine of the type in which the needle or stylus is so mounted that it moves across the record, for the engagement of the needle or stylus with the record at the desired point thereon, in the lowering of the needle or stylus to the record in the positioning of the parts to play a record., and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

While my invention, as to certain phases thereof, may be embodied in machinesl of varying types and constructions, I have devised it for use more particularly in a machine of the type illustrated and described in the pending application for U. S. patent filed by Charlie W. Anderson and myself tor improvement in talking machines, Serial No. 214,066, led August 19, 1927, and have therefore chosen to illustrate my present invention in connection with a machine of this type, but without the intention, however, of limiting the invention, as to certain aspects thereof, to its incorporation in such type of machine. Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a broken plan view of a machine of the type shown in said application for patent, and in which my improvements are incorporated. Figure 2 is a View in vertical elevation of certain of the parts disclosed in Fig. l, the tone arm of the device being broken away. Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating others of the parts shown in Fig. l. Figure 4 is a view in side elevation ot the 2, 1927. serial No. 230,545.

tone arm and the reproducer device. Figure 5 is a plan sectional view taken at the line 5-'5 on Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows, with certain parts shown unsectioned. Figure 6 is an end view of a pluraltone arm.v Figure 8 is a tace view of a pinequipped ring with which the sleeve of Fig. 6 is provided and which forms one of the elements of the means by which the reproducer devicesv are shifted into different positions on the toney arm. Figure 9 is a view taken at the line 9 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow and showing the position of the parts therein illustrated, at the conclusion of the playing of a record; Figure l0 is a similar view'showing the positions assumed by these parts upon the lifting of the reproducer device out of engagement with the record at the conclusion of the playing of the latter; and Figure ll, a similar view showing one of the positions occupied by the parts during the operation of swinging the tone arm crosswise of the record in the return of Vthe tone arm to the position it occupies preparatory to the next operation oflowering the reproducer device to the record for playing the latter.

As a preface to the following description of the invention, it may be stated that the reproducer-equipped tone arm of the partici ular construct-ion of machine shown and which is represented at l2 is adapted to be swung both vertically and horizontally to the end that the reproducer device thereon may be lowered into engagement with the groove of the record to be played and represented at 13 and the needle or stylus of the reproducer device be free to bear yieldingly against the record land follow the spiral groove thereot` to the end of the record groove and then litt it clear of the record and in raised position return it to the initial positiony shown in Fig. l.

The machine shown is of a type comprising Vpneumatically controlled mechanism dis- Figure 7 is a 'plan view of the sleeve-equipped extremity of the closed in the said application for patent, for

vertical plane, the section 14 being swiveled v.at 17 on the horizontal support 18, to adapt the tone-arm sections, as a unit, to be swung in a substantially horizontal plane about the substantially vertical axis aorded by the swivel 17, the reproducer portion of the machine, and hereinafter fully described,`being mounted on the outer end of theV tone-arm section 15.

' The pneumatic by means of which the tone- Y ,arm section is swung upwardly at its con- .section 15, the parts being so arranged that Anection 16 with the tone-armsection 14, is .represented at 19, (Figs. 1 and 2) the movable side of this pneumatic being provided with van outwardly projecting pin 2O which overlies the arc-shaped rear portion 21 of an arm 22 projecting rearwardly from the tone-arm when the pneumatic 19 is collapsed the arm 15 and the reproducer portion thereof will `extend in the raised position shown in the drawings. At the conclusion of the playing of arecord the pneumatic 19 is collapsed for the purpose stated by the engagement of an arm 23 on the tone-arm-section 14, with pneumatic controlling-mechanism repigese'nted at 24, the pneumatic 19 thus collapsed becoming locked in position by mechanism represented generally Vat 25. Upon setting the machine Vintoaction with the parts inthe normal position shown in Fig. 1 a pneumatic represented at 26 is automatically actuated to release the lock 25 permitting the pneumatic 19 to expand, allowing theV tone-arm section 15 to swing downwardly on the section 14 to lower the reproducer device into engagement with the record to startthe playing ofthe record beneath it.

Upon concluding the playing of a selection, n

in which operation the tone arm swings in clockwise direction in Fig. 1, the arm 23 engages the pneumatie-controlling mechanism 24 to effect collapsing of the pneumatic 27 the ,movable side of which is connectedvwith a push rod 28 extending through an opening in an arm 29 on the tone-arm section 14 and provided with a tappet 3() which in the operation of the pneumatic 27 as stated swings the tone arm at the swivel 17 in counterclockwisedirection in Fig. 1 to the position therein shown, it being understood that the armA 15 remains in raised position, so that the needle or stylus is out of engagement with the record, 4during the horizontal swinging ofthe tone arm to normal position, as stated.

Referring now to the needle or stylus equipped portion of the mechanism, my invention contemplates the provision of the' tone arm with a plurality of reproducer units 33 with which the needle holder 34, pivoted at 35 on the head, is connected, the needle 36 of the reproducer device being preferably of such material that it may be used in the playing of a relatively large number of records withoutV impairment 5 the reproducer, device also comprises a tubular extension 37 on its khead at which it is adapted to communicate with the tone passage.-

rlhe mounting forthe reproducer rdevices lon the tone-arm section 15 is sho-wn as formed of a sleeve-like member38 rotatably supported on the outer end portion 39 of the tonearm section 15 and yieldingly pressed vat one end against a. shoulder 40 on this section, under the action of a spring 41 (Fig. 5) secured to a bar 42 extending beyond the journalling portion 39 and adjustably clamped to a bar 43 secured to, and extending' axially of, the tone-arm section 15, the tone passage 44 in this arm extending short of the journalling portion 39 and opening through a side thereof as represented at 45. The free end of the spring 41 bears against 4the outer edge portion of the sleeve member 38 and is adapted to releasably enter notches 4G therein provided of a nrunber corresponding with the number of reproducer units 31 and so arranged that one of these notches will he entered by the spring 41 when the Ycorresponding reproducer device vis so positioned axially about the to-ne-arm section 15 that its needle or stylus will be in proper position for entering the record` groove.

The sleeve member 38 contains a series of' radially `extending, equidistantly spaced, openings 47 (Fig) which open into tubular bosses 48 on the sleeve, the openings 47 suc'- cessively moving into registration with the o tone passage 44 in thev rotation of the sleeve member 38, and the parts being so arranged that when the sleeve 38 is moved into a position in which said registration takes place' the one of the reproducer devicesincommunication with the tone passage 44'A will be in proper position for functioning.

The reproducer devices are mounted at their tubular portions 37 upon the tubular` bosses 48 to extend radially from the axis of the tone-arm section 15, as shown. 'A i The preferred illustrated embodiment of my invention also comprises means operating automatically each time the tone-arm is yswung at the swivel 127 to the position shown in Fig. 1 at the co-nclusion of the playing of a record, to move the reproducer` device by which the record was played, out of operative position and move the Lnext succeeding one of the reproducer devices into a position for effecting the next playing operation, whether it be of the same record or another record substituted therefor either by an automatic operation as in the machine of the said application for patent or by a manual operation, these means comprising a ring 49 surrounding the sleeve portion 33 and secured to a flange 50 on the latter as by screws 51, this ring being'provided with a plurality of equidistantly `spaced pins 52 which extend lengthwise of the axis of the member 38. The pins 52 are provided for cooperation with a lever 53 (Fig. 1) pivotally connected at 54 with a stationary post 55 and extending crosswise of the axes of the pins 52. The lever 53 tends to swing downwardly' against the uppermost one of the pins 52 preferably with the aid of a spring 56 connected at its lower end with the post and at its upper end with the lever 53. rlChe lever 53.

contains, in its underside, adjacent its outer end, a notch 57 (Fig. 9) a portion of 'a 4side wall of which is cut away as shown at 58 to provide a cam surface 59, and between the notch 57 and the pivot 54 with a notch 60, these notches being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between the axes of the pins 52. I

The parts just described are so arranged that when the tone-arm is swung horizontally to return it to the position shown in Fig. 1 after the playing of a record, the pin 52 associated with the reproducer device extending opposite to the one by which the record was played, the tone-arm section 15 being in raised position (Fig. 10), will engage the cam surface 59 and strike the end wall 61 of the notch 57 which forms an abutment. As the tone-arm continues to swing horizontally to the position shown in Fig-1, the abutting of the pin 52 referred to against the shoulder portion 61, causes the plural-reproducer head, formed of the sleeve 38 and the reproducer devices, to rotate against the resistance of the spring 41 in clockwisedirection in Figs. 9, 16 and 11 (one of the intermediate positions of these parts in this operation being shown in Fig. 11), the next succeeding pin 52 being carried up and entering the notch 60 in which position of the parts the reproducer device next in succession to 'the one which was used in the previous playing operation, is caused to extend into a position in which, when the tone-arm section 15 is swung downwardly, this reproducer device will engage at its needle or stylus with the record to perform the next playing operation, the spring 41, in the shifting of the reproducer devices as stated, entering the next notch to hold the sleeve 33 against accidental displacement about the tone-arm section 15.

The mechanism` just described not: only serves to perform the function just stated but also operates to lock the tone arm against swinging horizontally out of the position shown in Fig. 1, until, and unless, the tone 'arm section 15 is permitted to swing downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 which operation, in the particular illustrated construction of the machine, is peformed by the releasing of the lock mechanism 24 to start the playing of a selection, as hereinbefore described.

The machine alsol comprises means (Figs. 1 and operating to prevent accidental swinging of the tone arm horizontally to a position in which the needle or stylus engages the record groove beyond the beginning of the playing portion of the groove,

should any force be exerted tending to swing the tone arm in clockwise direction in Fig. 1 after the pin 52 leaves the notch 60 and before the needle engagesy `the record, these means comprising a guide member 62 rising from, and supported on, the support 187 this guide mcmberbeing shown as formed of a post 6.3 carrying an angle plate 64 the upper edge portion of the flange 65 of which is outwardly deflected as represented at 66, the iiange portion 65 being so positionedthat it is engaged by the outer end of the pin 43 as the tone arm section 15 swings downwardly, but so disposed that this pin extends entirely beneath it immediately preceding the lowering of this pin to its final position in the engaging of the needle or stylus of the reproducer device with the record groove.

l/Vhile I have illustrated and described' a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, while I have illustrated the invention as einbodied in a machine of a particular type, I do not wish to be understood as intending 'to limit it to embodiment in such a type of machine, as it may be incorporated in various other types and constructions of machine within the spirit of the invention.

V1What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped supporting membermo'unted for movementv relative to said support, and a plurality of reproducer-devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out of operative position relative to the record and comprising substantially 'similar stylus holders.

2 In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative tov said support, and

a plurality of reproducer-devices mounted on said member for bodily movement thereon into and out of operative position relative to the recordand comprising substantially simr ilar stylus holders.

3. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said support and a plurality of reproducerl devices rotatably mounted on saidl member for bodilymovement thereon into and out of operative position relative to the record and comprising substantially similar stylus holders. Y

4. In a talking machine, the combination of a record support, a member containing a tone passage and movable relative to said support, and a plurality of reproducer devices each containing a tone passage and movably mounted on said member for communication at its tone passage with the passage in said member and Vfor operative positioning thereon relative to the record and comprising substantially similar stylus holders.

'5. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support a member containing a tonepasage and movable relative to said support, and a plurality of reproducerdevices each containing a tone passagel and rotatably mounted on said member for communication at its tone passage with the passage in said member :tor operative positioning thereon relative to the record and comprising substantially similar stylus holders.

6. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone arm mounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portionmounted to swing vertically, a plurality of-reproducer devices mounted o-n said arm for bodily movement thereon into operative position 4relative toa record on said support, and means `for actuating said arm at the conclusion of the playing of a record for lifting the reproducer device clear of the'record and returning said arm to starting position.

7. Ina talking machine, the combination of. a record-support, a tone arm Amounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portion mounted to swing vertically, a. plurality of reproducer devices rotatably mounted on said arm for bodily movement thereon into operative position relative to a record on said support, and means for actuating said arm at the conclusion of the playing of a record for lifting the reproducer device clear of the record and returning said arm to starting position. y y

. 8. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a supporting member ymounted Vfor movement relative to said recmeans operating automatically after the concluding of the playing' of a record, to bodily move theone of said reproducer devices` by which the record was played out of voperative position and bodily move another of said devices into operative position.

9. Ina talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said record-sup? port, ak plurality of reproducer-devices mounted on said member forl bodily movement thereon into and out of operative position relative to a record on said support, and means operating automatically after the concluding of the playing ota record, to bodily move the one of said reproducer devices by which the record was played out of operative position and bodily moving another of said devices into operative position.y

10. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, al tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said record-support, a plurality of reproducer devices rotatably mounted on said member for bodily movement thereon into and out of operative position relative to a record on said support, and means operating automatically after the concluding of the playing of a record, to bodily move the one of said reproducer devices by which the record was played out of operative posit-ion and bodily move another of said devices into operative position.

ll. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone arm mounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portion mounted toswing vertically, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said arm and bodily movable into and out of operative position relative toa record on said support, means for actuating said arm at the conclusion of the playing of a record for lifting the reproducer device clear of the record and returning said arm to starting position, and means operating automatically in the swinging of said arm, to bodily move the one of such reproducer devices bywhich the record was played out of operative position and bodily move another of said devices into operative position. n

12. In a talking machine,y the'combination of a record-support, a tone arm mounted to swing about a. vertical aXis and having a por,- tion mounted to swing vertically, al plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said arm ymeans for actuating said arms at the conclusion of the playing of a record for lifting the reproducer device clear of the record and y returning said arm to starting position, and

means operating automatically inthe swinging of said arm to starting position, Vto` bodily move the one of such reproducer devices by which the record was played out of operative position and bodily move another of said devices into operative position.

13. In a talking machine, the combination 1130 of a record-support, a tone-arm mounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portion mounted to swing vertically, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said arm for bodily movement thereon into operative position relative to a record on said support, means for actuatingsaid arm at the conclusion' of the playing of a record tor lifting the reproducer' device clear of the record and returning said arm to starting position, and means operating automatically in the swinging of said arm, to bodily move the one of such reproducer devices bywhich the record was played out o't' operative position and bodily move another ot said devices into operative position.

11i. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone arm mounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portion mounted to swing vertically, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said arm for bodily movement thereon into operative position relative to a record on said support, means for actuatingsaid arm at Vthe conclusion of the playing of a record for lifting the reproducer device clear of the record and returning said arm to starting position, and means operating automatically in the swinging oit said arm to starting position, to bodily move'the one of such reproducer devices by which the record was played out of operative position and bodily movey another of said devices intoxoperative position.

15. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone arm mounted to swing about a vertical axis and having a portion mounted to swing vertically, a plurality of reproducerdevices rotatably mounted on said arm for bodily movement thereon into operative position relative to a record on said support, means Jfor actuating said arm at the conclusion of the playing of a record'for lifting the reproducer device clear of the record and returning said arm to starting position, and means operating automatically in the movement oit said arm to starting position, to bodily move the one of said reproducer devices by which the record was played out of operative position and bodily move another of said devices into operative position.

A16. In a talking machine,'the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said support, a second member rotatably mounted on said rst-named member, and a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said second member for movement therewith on said firstnamed member. i

17. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said support, a second member rotatably mounted on said first-named member, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said second member for movement therewith on said first-named member, and means operating automatically after the concluding of the playing. of a record to rotate said second member for bodily moving the one of said reproducer devices by which the record was played 'out of operative position andbodily move another of said devicesinto operative position,

18. In a talking machine, the combination oi" a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped supporting member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out ot operative position relative to a record, a series of projections operatively connected with said reproducer devices, and means with which said projections engage in movements of said member for bodily moving the reproducer devices.

19. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, atone-passage-equipped supporting member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and' out of operative position relative to a record on said support, a series of projections operatively connected with' said reproducer devices, and means with which said projections engage in the movements of said member to starting position for bodily moving thel reproducer devices.

2 0. In a'talking machine, the combination of a record-support, aV tone-passage-equippe'd member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted 'on said member for bodily movement thereon into and out of operative position relative lto a record on said support, a seriesof projections operatively connected with saidfreproducer devices, and means with which said projections `engage in. movements of said member for bodily moving the reproducer devices. f

' v21. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices 'mounted on said member for bodily movement thereon into and out of operative position relative to a record on said support, a series of projections operatively connected with said .reproducer devices, and means with which said projections engage in the movements of said member to starting position, for bodilymov` ing the reproducer devices on said member.

22. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped suporting member movablerelative to said support, a plurality of reproducerl devicesv rotatably mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out of operative position relative to a record on said support,

a series of projections operatively connectedA with said reproducer devices,and means with which said projections engage in movements of said member for bodily rotating the reproducer devices.

23. yIn a talking machine, the combination,

of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices rotatably mounted on said member for bodily movement thereon into and out oi operative position relative to a record on said support, a

series of projections operatively connected With said reproducer devices, and means with Which said projections engage in the movements of saidmember to starting positions, for bodily rotating the reproducer' devices on said member.

24; In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, a tone-passage-equipped supporting member movable relative to said support, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out of operative position relative to a record on said support, a series of projections operatively connected with said reproducer devices, and means With Which said projections engage in movements of said member for bodily moving the reproducer devices vcomprising an abutment-device for engagement by said projections. i

25. In a talking machine, the combination of a record-support, Ya tone-passage-equipped supporting member movable relative to said support, a'plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out Vof operative position relative to a record on said support, a series'of projections operatively connected With said reproducer devices, and means With Which said projections engage in-movements of said member for bodilymoving the reproducer abutment by'said pins and containing a plurality of spaced apart pin-receiving notches.

27. Inr a talking machine, the combination of a tone arm provided With a reproducer de- Vice movable up and down and laterally, means holding said arm from movement laterally in the raised position of said device and disengageable therefrom in the lowering of said device, and a guide operative to guideV said device to the record beneath it.

28. In a talking machine, the combination of a tone arm provided With a reproducer device movable up and down and laterally,

means holding said arm from movement latuse With thesame kind of a stylus, mounted on, and grouped about,said member, V'for the purpose set forth. 1

30. In atalking machine, the combination of a record support, a tone-passage-equipped member movable relative to said suppofl. a member rotatably mounted on said tone arm and open to said tone passage and having portions about its periphery for attachment thereto otsimilar reproducer'. devices, anda plurality of similar reproducer devices mounted onV said member at said portions and each adapted for use With the same kind of stylus, said devices having means for supporting kthereon substantially similar stylus holders. l

31. In a talking machine, the combination oia record support, a tone-passage-equipped 95 su a Jortino' member movable relativeV to saidV support, a plurality of reproducer devices mounted on said member and bodily movable into and out of operative position relative Vto a record on said support, a series kof, projections operatively connected'With said reproducer devices, means With .Whichsaid projections engage in movements of said member for bodily moving the reproducer devices comprising an abutment-device for abutment by said pinsv and containing a plurality of. spaced apart pin-receiving notches, and a guideoperative to guide the reproducer device to the record beneath it upon movement of the pin out of the notch. i

32. In aV talking machine, the combination of a tone arm provided With a reproducer device movableup and down and laterally, means holding said arm from movement lat- .rice

erally in the raised position of said device and j f AXELk r. LARsoN portion. 

